What is the Difference Between ‘Invasive,’ ‘Non-Invasive,’ and ‘Minimally Invasive’ Medical Procedures?

When considering vein disease treatment in NJ, you’ll likely hear many words you aren’t all that familiar with. One of the words often associated with this type of treatment is “minimally invasive.” While you can probably infer that a minimally invasive treatment is less invasive than an invasive treatment, you will likely still have some questions. What exactly defines a minimally invasive treatment and how do they differ from an invasive or non-invasive procedure? Dr. John Chuback, a vein specialist from Bergen County, encourages you to understand what each term means before deciding on a course of vein treatment.

What should Bergen County, NJ patients know about medical procedure invasiveness?

One of the most popular images brought to mind when thinking about a medical procedure is of a patient “under the knife.” The patient is unconscious from general anesthesia and is experiencing surgical incisions through the skin. This image is an example of an invasive surgery, or a surgery that breaks the skin and requires the use of stitches or staples to close the incision. Because of the amount of healing that needs to be done after a procedure of this magnitude, invasive treatments generally require a longer recovery period than less invasive measures. However, there is no denying that invasive procedures can be life saving and well worth the healing time.

On the other end of the spectrum are non-invasive procedures. Non-invasive treatments do not break the skin. They are often used by vascular doctors in NJ to help diagnose certain vein issues. One of the more common non-invasive procedures is the ultrasound. This type of screening is conducted by running a small, hand-held device over the surface of the skin. Sound waves emitted by the device build an image of the patient’s internal structures, allowing for a diagnosis. There is no recovery time necessary after undergoing an ultrasound or after many other types of non-invasive procedures.

Finally, a patient may undergo a minimally invasive procedure. This distinction refers to procedures that break the skin without necessitating large incisions. Most forms of vein treatment are considered minimally invasive because they can be carried out with the use of only a small needle or catheter. A spider & varicose veins doctor in NJ can use these tools to seal off a problematic vein without needing general anesthesia or requiring a lengthy recovery period. Not only can minimally invasive vein procedures be carried out in a short period of time, they also require very little time spent on recovery. Many patients are able to return to their daily routine within a day or two after their treatment, a much shorter time span than what is common in an invasive surgery.

Understanding the minimally invasive nature of modern vein treatment can help set patients minds at ease about what they may experience during their procedure. At Chuback Medical Group we understand that it can be stressful to contemplate any sort of medical procedure, which is why we are happy to answer any questions you may have about any of our vein treatments. For more information, please don’t hesitate to call our office at 201-693-4847.